a Earlier this month, YEP-DC launched its new paid membership program. For $25 per year, YEP-DC members receive access to an exclusive jobs listserv and advanced notice and reduced pricing for YEP events. To welcome in the new program, Recess is highlighting some of the first members to join the new YEP-DC. Today: Carolyn Chuong, an analyst at Bellwether Education Partners and YEP-DC's professional development chair.

What is your current job?I’m an analyst at Bellwether Education Partners, a nonprofit that supports organizations in the education sector in three ways: policy research and analysis, strategic advising, and talent/human capital support. At Bellwether I’ve gotten exposure to all types of clients and projects. This past year I worked on a white paper on improving teacher prep in California; a five-year business plan and financial model for a STEM organization; and a market analysis of the educational gaming industry.

What did you do previously?I went to Brown University, where I majored in public health. I also had a strong interest in education reform, taking education courses and teaching environmental and outdoor education at a local charter school.

After graduating I taught as a Fulbright Fellow in a rural area of western Venezuela. I was a teacher at both a local university and a “bicultural center,” a cultural and teaching center founded by the U.S. embassy to promote stronger bilateral relations. Outside of the classroom, I did a ton of salsa dancing (unfortunately, I never really got good at it), made arepas (delicious corn patties), and hiked in the Andes.

After I returned to the States, I worked in consulting at Monitor 360 (formerly part of Monitor Group) and then at Mathematica Policy Research. At Mathematica I evaluated the effectiveness of education policies and programs, including DC’s teacher evaluation system IMPACT.

Why do you work in education?I grew up attending “tracked” schools within Houston ISD, where students were either in advanced AP/IB classes or “regular” classes. While I received a good education, many of my peers did not based on assumptions made around whether they could succeed academically. It was pretty appalling given that we attended the same schools—and is a key reason why I began working in education.

Why did you decide to join YEP-DC?To meet others in the education sector! I wish I got to interact more with those working in other areas in education—I don’t interact much with teachers in my day-to-day work, for instance. I was also excited by the breadth of YEP-DC’s programming, everything from happy hours to ed policy panel events to volunteer service.

What’s been your favorite YEP-DC experience?I’ve been organizing Next Step, YEP-DC’s first-ever professional development series! Over the past year, YEP-DC has committed to further developing its programming around professional development. This first series is designed to support DC’s early to mid-level professionals building a career in the education sector. We’ve got a talented lineup of facilitators, including the VP of Regional Ops at Reading Partners (a national literacy nonprofit with a strong presence in DC) and the former Chief Talent Officer at DC Prep (one of the top-performing charter school networks here).

Where do you see yourself in ten years?I hope to be in a nonprofit management role at an organization focused on educational equity. ​To get more information or to join YEP-DC as a member, visit this page. Interested in being featured in YEP-DC’s member profile series? Contact yepdc.communications@gmail.com.

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YEP-DC is a nonpartisan group of education professionals who work in research, policy, and practice – and even outside of education. The views expressed here are only those of the attributed author, not YEP-DC. This blog aims to provide a forum for our group’s varied opinions. It also serves as an opportunity for many more professionals in DC and beyond to participate in the ongoing education conversation. We hope you chime in, but we ask that you do so in a considerate, respectful manner. We reserve the right to modify or delete any content or comments. For any more information or for an opportunity to blog, contact us via one of the methods below.

Bloggers

MONICA GRAY is co-founder & president of DreamWakers, an edtech nonprofit. She writes on education innovation and poverty.

LYDIA HALL is a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she works on education, civil rights, and other issues. Lydia is interested in helping to bridge the gap between Capitol Hill and the classroom.

MOSES PALACIOS is an advocate for student rights and works as a Research Manager for the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) - a coalition of urban school districts across the nation. He writes on issues regarding the children of immigrants and students learning English as a second language. His views are his own and not representative of CGCS.

PATRICIA RUANE is aresearch associate at an education nonprofit. She is an editor of Recess. ​LESLIE WELSH is a high school social studies teacher in DC. She is an editor of Recess.